Fire performance data

In one of the most comprehensive test suites ever run on a mist product by BRE, Plumis verified the effectiveness of Automist® with live burns in a series of different scenarios. The test was based on BS EN 1869:1997, DD 8458 1:2010, and the criteria of Scandinavian SRSA/DSB "Easily installed automatic extinguishing systems". Critically, Fractional Effective Dosage (FED) measurements and "free burn" control tests were included to allow a complete and objective assessment. These tests were run in BRE Global's Watford (UK) Burn Hall and mimicked both furniture and kitchen fires.
In every test where a "free burn" unsuppressed reference was available, the system produced an improvement in both temperature and asphyxiant gas conditions, whilst reducing damage. Automist® was found to render lethal environments survivable. In a major furniture fire, even those immobilised in the room could have survived for the entire test period of 30 minutes, based on a Fractional Effective Dosage methodology.

Free Technical Information Pack

Download our information pack which contains information detailing how Automist® uses a high-pressure pump to provide whole-room fire protection and data from the extensive testing by BRE Global. The instructions detail how Automist can be retrofitted without major disruption. We also provide a link to download information on Automist's LABC Registered Detail (EW171).

Automist® is covered by an LABC Registered Detail (EW171) for use in open plan layouts in loft converted houses. The Registered Details scheme allows building control officers to approve a project without a long and detailed investigation. This page provides additional technical information for those that seek an understand of the principles and testing that underlie Automist.

A fire suppression device like Automist aims to control and suppress fires, significantly reducing the risk of injury, life loss and property damage by maintaining tenable conditions for as long as possible while occupants evacuate. This is achieved in several ways:

Reduction of room temperature in the region of the fire. Water mist devices achieve this by consuming much of the fire’s energy in converting water to steam.

Reduction of smoke and toxic gases. Water mist devices achieve this by the production of copious amounts of inert steam in the immediate vicinity of the fire, locally excluding oxygen, reducing temperatures and thus slowing the oxidation reactions of the fire.

Flashover prevention. By constraining room temperatures to around 100°C or less, flashover (the rapid ignition of combustible items in the room) is prevented.

Providing cooling to structural elements of the home that are in the spray path, allowing them to resist the fire for longer.

Automist® may often provide a more reliable safety measure than the traditional measure of fire doors, which Approved Document B now allows not to be equipped with closers.

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Automist is a sprinkler-alternative for full room active fire protection. It was extensively tested by BRE and is an LABC Registered Solution (EW171) for loft conversions.